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He also said before that some players had got other jobs because they weren’t training on a full-time basis. However, Hessenthaler has previously said all players are currently on full-time contracts at the club.

The club is trying to resolve the situation, with the manager hopeful that there can be a positive outcome “within the next week.”

When asked who was in a similar position to Lewington, Hessenthaler said: “Connor Essam, he’s got work issues as well, which is a shame because Connor’s been doing really well.

“There’s another situation that we’ve got to sort out, and also Mitch Brundle.

“They’re the three players and the problems we’ve got at the moment, and hopefully we can resolve that.

“This transition of changing from part-time to full-time is not just going to happen overnight. It’s going to take a few weeks, I did say that.

“We’re trying to implement it as quick as we can and most of them can do it. There’s a few that can’t, so there’s a little bit of work to be done on those situations. That’s what the chairman and myself are trying to resolve over the next week or so.

“[It would be] big, very big [if they left], because they’ve played every game. Brunds is the captain.

“Connor I know very well. I gave him his chance at Gillingham when I was manager there and I know what he can bring. I think his performances have shown that in the two games that I’ve been involved in. It’s a situation that we’ve got to resolve. If we can’t, we can’t, we’ll have to go out and find a replacement.

“We’ll have to wait and see how the conversations go over the next week or so. I’d like to think, within the next week to two, but hopefully within the next week that we can get things resolved.”

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The boss also confirmed that goalkeeper Mitch Walker, despite suggestions that he may have issues with the new schedule, is able to commit.

Hessenthaler remains optimistic that Brundle and Essam won’t be leaving the club.

“I’m pretty confident. I wouldn’t say I’m 100 per cent, but we’re pretty confident we can get something sorted with the boys,” the manager added.

“If we can’t, it’s football, we have to move on. They’ve also got to look at themselves, their future lives and their families. It’s got to be right for them as well, but we’ll do everything we can to hopefully resolve the situation. If we can’t, we can’t, but I’m pretty confident we can.”